Tool carrier having rotatable cover

ABSTRACT

A tool carrier includes a base having a number of cavities formed in the upper portion, or a number of depressions formed in the outer peripheral portion for receiving tool members. A cover is rotatably attached onto the base, and includes an orifice selectively aligned with either of the cavities of the base, to allow the tool members to be selectively engaged into or disengaged from the cavities of the base. The cover further includes a passage selectively aligned with either of the depressions of the base, to allow the tool members to be engaged into or disengaged from the depressions of the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool carrier or a tool box or a tool assembly, and more particularly to a tool carrier having a rotatable cover for selectively engaging tool members into or disengaging the tool members from the tool carrier.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical tool boxes or tool assemblies or tool casings comprise a container having one or more compartments formed or provided therein for receiving various tool members. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,773 to Bitel discloses one of the typical utility tool boxes having one or more compartments formed or defined therein by dividers, to receive tool members therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,628 to Bridges discloses another typical storage and display case having a pivotal mounted cover which includes a number of depressions formed or defined therein for receiving various tool members therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,478 to Rau et al. discloses a further typical storage and display box having a number of pivotal inserts each of which includes a number of holes formed therein to receive various tool members.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,975 to Chow discloses a still further typical tool box having two casings pivotally secured together, and each of the casings includes a number of recesses formed therein to receive various tool members, and retained to the casings with resilient retaining devices.

Normally, the typical or the conventional tool boxes or tool casings comprise a base and a cover pivotally secured together. None of the typical or the conventional tool boxes or tool casings comprise a cover that may be rotatable relative to the base for receiving tool members therein.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional tool carriers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tool carrier including a rotatable cover for selectively engaging tool members or elements into or disengaging the tool members or elements from the tool carrier.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool carrier comprising a base including an upper portion having a plurality of cavities formed therein for receiving tool members, and a cover rotatably attached onto the base, and including an orifice formed therein, and selectively aligned with either of the cavities of the base, to allow the tool members to be selectively engaged into or disengaged from the cavities of the base.

A latch may further be provided and rotatably securing the cover to the base. The base includes at least one lock notch formed therein, the cover includes a bore formed therein, the latch includes at least one hook extended through the bore of the cover and engaged with the lock notch of the base, to rotatably secure the cover to the base. The cover includes a peripheral recess formed therein, the latch includes a peripheral flange rotatably engageable in the peripheral recess of the cover.

The base includes an outer peripheral portion having a plurality of depressions formed therein for receiving tool members, and the cover includes a passage formed therein and selectively aligned with either of the depressions of the base, to allow the tool members to be engaged into or disengaged from the depressions of the base.

The base includes a space formed therein for receiving tool elements, and the cover includes an opening formed therein and selectively aligned with the space of the base, to allow the tool elements to be engaged into or disengaged from the space of the base. The cover includes a passage formed therein and communicating with the opening thereof.

The base includes a plurality of slits formed therein, the cover includes a projection engageable with either of the slits of the base, to align the orifice of the cover with either of the cavities of the base.

The base includes a chamber formed therein for receiving a tool element therein. The base includes at least one retainer bulge extended into the chamber thereof, and having a slot formed therein to receive the tool element. The base includes a flap pivotally secured thereto and rotatable into the chamber thereof.

The base includes two retainer brackets, the flap includes a pole pivotally secured between the retainer brackets, to rotatably secure the flap to the base. The flap includes a groove formed therein to define two resilient blades and to apply a resilient biasing force to attach the flap to the base.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tool carrier in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool carrier;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view illustrating the operation of the tool carrier;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the other operation of the tool carrier;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the tool carrier;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view illustrating the lower structure of the tool carrier; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing the lower structure of the tool carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tool carrier in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10 including one or more cavities 11 formed in the upper portion 12 thereof for receiving tool members or elements 70, such as screw driver bits 70 therein, and including one or more depressions 13 formed in the outer peripheral portion 14 thereof for receiving the other tool members or elements 70, such as the screw driver bits 70 therein.

It is preferable that the base 10 includes a flat portion or surface 15 formed in the outer peripheral portion 14 thereof and arranged between the depressions 13 that are also formed in the outer peripheral portion 14 of the base 10. The base 10 further includes a space 16 formed therein and opened upwardly and laterally, for receiving the other tool members or elements 71, such as the screw driver shank or tool extension 71 therein, and arranged for allowing the tool member 71 to be disengaged from the space 16 of the base 10 either upwardly or laterally.

The base 10 further includes a recess 17 formed in the upper portion 12 thereof, and one or more, such as two lock notches 18 formed in the upper portion 12 thereof and communicating with the recess 17 thereof. The base 10 further includes a number of slits 19 formed in the outer peripheral portion 14 thereof, and preferably spaced away from the depressions 13 thereof, but preferably aligned with the depressions 13 and/or the cavities 11 thereof.

It is further preferable that the base 10 includes a peripheral skirt or a seat 20 extended downwardly from the outer peripheral portion 14 thereof, and having an outer diameter greater than that of the base 10, to form or define a peripheral shoulder 21 between the base 10 and the seat 20, and the base 10 includes a chamber 22 formed in the bottom or lower portion thereof (FIGS. 5, 6) for receiving the other tool members or elements 73, such as the screw driver handles or wrenches 73 therein.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the base 10 includes one or more, such as two retainer bulges 23, 24 provided in the lower portion thereof and preferably extended into the chamber 22 thereof. Each of the retainer bulges 23, 24 includes a slot 25, 26 formed therein to receive such as ends of the tool members or elements 73, and to retain the tool members or elements 73 within the chamber 22 of the base 10.

The base 10 may further include one or more, such as two retainer brackets 27 provided in the lower portion thereof and preferably extended into the chamber 22 thereof. A flap 50 includes a pole 51 attached to one end thereof and pivotally attached or secured between the retainer brackets 27, to rotatably or pivotally secure the flap 50 to the base 10. The flap 50 is foldable into the chamber 22 of the base 10 to engage with the tool member 73 (FIG. 5), and to stably retain the tool members or elements 73 within the chamber 22 of the base 10.

The flap 50 preferably includes a groove 52 formed therein to form or define two resilient blades 53 which may apply a resilient or spring biasing force to attach the pole 51 to the retainer brackets 27, and to prevent the pole 51 from being disengaged from the retainer brackets 27. The flap 50 may further includes a hole 54 formed therein for hanging or displaying purposes.

The tool carrier further includes a cover 30 rotatably attached onto the base 10 and engageable with the peripheral shoulder 21 of the base 10, to rotatably position the cover 30 to the base 10. The cover 30 includes a bore 31 formed therein, and a peripheral recess 32 formed around the bore 31 thereof. A latch 40 includes a peripheral flange 41 rotatably engageable in the peripheral recess 32 of the cover 30, and one or more, such as two hooks 42 extended through the bore 31 of the cover 30 and engaged with the lock notches 18 of the base 10, to rotatably secure the cover 30 to the base 10.

The cover 30 includes an orifice 33 formed in the upper portion 38 thereof, and arranged to be selectively aligned with either of the cavities 11 of the base 10, best shown in FIG. 3, to allow the tool members or elements 70 to be engaged into and/or to be disengaged from the cavities 11 of the base 10, via the orifice 33 of the cover 30.

The cover 30 further includes a passage 34 formed in the side or the outer peripheral portion 39 thereof, and arranged to be selectively aligned with either of the depressions 13 of the base 10, best shown in FIG. 4, to allow the tool members or elements 70 to be engaged into and/or to be disengaged from the depressions 13 of the base 10 via the passage 34 of the cover 30.

The cover 30 includes a projection 35 extended therefrom, to engage with either of the slits 19 of the base 10, and to position the cover 30 to the base 10, and either to align the orifice 33 of the cover 30 with the respective cavities 11 of the base 10 (FIG. 3), or to align the passage 34 of the cover 30 with the respective depressions 13 of the base 10.

It is preferable that the passage 34 of the cover 30 is offset from the depressions 13 of the base 10 when the orifice 33 of the cover 30 is aligned with either of the cavities 11 of the base 10, to prevent the tool members or elements 70 from being disengaged from the depressions 13 of the base 10 via the passage 34 of the cover 30, and to allow the tool members or elements 70 to be engaged into and/or to be disengaged from the cavities 11 of the base 10 via the orifice 33 of the cover 30.

On the contrary, it is also preferable that the orifice 33 of the cover 30 is offset from the cavities 11 of the base 10 when the passage 34 of the cover 30 is aligned with either of the depressions 13 of the base 10, to prevent the tool members or elements 70 from being disengaged from the cavities 11 of the base 10 via the orifice 33 of the cover 30, and to allow the tool members or elements 70 to be engaged into and/or to be disengaged from the depressions 13 of the base 10 via the passage 34 of the cover 30.

The cover 30 further includes an opening 37 formed in the side or the outer peripheral portion 39 thereof, and communicating with the passage 34 thereof, and arranged to be selectively aligned with the space 16 of the base 10, to allow the tool members or elements 71 to be engaged into and/or to be disengaged from the space 16 of the base 10 via the opening 37 of the cover 30.

It is preferable that the opening 37 of the cover 30 includes a diameter or a width greater than that of the passage 34 of the cover 30. It is preferable that, when the passage 34 of the cover 30 is aligned with the flat portion or surface 15 of the base 10, no tool members or elements 70 may be engaged into and/or disengaged from the depressions 13 and the cavities 11 of the base 10.

Accordingly, the tool carrier includes a rotatable cover for selectively engaging tool members or elements into or disengaging the tool members or elements from the tool carrier.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A tool carrier comprising: a base including an upper portion having a plurality of cavities formed therein for receiving tool members, and a cover rotatably attached onto said base, and including an orifice formed therein, and selectively aligned with either of said cavities of said base, to allow the tool members to be engaged into or disengaged from said cavities of said base.
 2. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a latch rotatably securing said cover to said base.
 3. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base includes at least one lock notch formed therein, said cover includes a bore formed therein, said latch includes at least one hook extended through said bore of said cover and engaged with said at least one lock notch of said base, to rotatably secure said cover to said base.
 4. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover includes a peripheral recess formed therein, said latch includes a peripheral flange rotatably engageable in said peripheral recess of said cover.
 5. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes an outer peripheral portion having a plurality of depressions formed therein for receiving tool members, and said cover includes a passage formed therein and selectively aligned with either of said depressions of said base, to allow the tool members to be engaged into or disengaged from said depressions of said base.
 6. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a space formed therein for receiving tool elements, and said cover includes an opening formed therein and selectively aligned with said space of said base, to allow the tool elements to be engaged into or disengaged from said space of said base.
 7. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cover includes a passage formed therein and communicating with said opening thereof.
 8. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a plurality of slits formed therein, said cover includes a projection engageable with either of said slits of said base, to align said orifice of said cover with either of said cavities of said base.
 9. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a chamber formed therein for receiving a tool element therein.
 10. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein said base includes at least one retainer bulge extended into said chamber thereof, and having a slot formed therein to receive the tool element.
 11. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a flap pivotally secured thereto and rotatable into said chamber thereof.
 12. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base includes two retainer brackets, said flap includes a pole pivotally secured between said retainer brackets, to rotatably secure said flap to said base.
 13. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 11, wherein said flap includes a groove formed therein to define two resilient blades and to apply a resilient biasing force to attach said flap to said base.
 14. A tool carrier comprising: a base including an outer peripheral portion having a plurality of depressions formed therein for receiving tool members, and a cover rotatably attached onto said base, and including an passage formed therein, and selectively aligned with either of said depressions of said base, to allow the tool members to be engaged into or disengaged from said depressions of said base.
 15. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a latch rotatably securing said cover to said base.
 16. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 14, wherein said base includes an upper portion having a plurality of cavities formed therein for receiving tool members, and said cover includes an orifice formed therein and selectively aligned with either of said cavities of said base, to allow the tool members to be engaged into or disengaged from said cavities of said base.
 17. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 14, wherein said base includes a space formed therein for receiving tool elements, and said cover includes an opening formed therein and selectively aligned with said space of said base, to allow the tool elements to be engaged into or disengaged from said space of said base.
 18. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 14, wherein said base includes a plurality of slits formed therein, said cover includes a projection engageable with either of said slits of said base, to align said passage of said cover with said depressions of said base.
 19. The tool carrier as claimed in claim 14, wherein said base includes a chamber formed therein, and includes a flap pivotally secured thereto and rotatable into said chamber thereof. 